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Southern Painted Turtle

Chrysemys dorsalis

Reptile · family Emydidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
10 states[3]

The Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis) is a reptile in the family Emydidae[4]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to 10 US states[1][2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Southern Painted Turtle a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5 (Secure)[5]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe estimates the adult population at 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals, and its notes say the trend is likely stable but hard to measure[6][7].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[5] N5 (Secure)
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[6] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Southern Painted Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the Southern Painted Turtle as native in 10 US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas[3]. NatureServe state ranks differ from state to state, and the table on this page shows them[8]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the turtle, not where you are sure to see it[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank SNRILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S4MOKentucky: native, state rank S2KYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S4TNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S2OKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank SNRALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (10 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNRNot Ranked
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
IllinoisSNRNot Ranked
KentuckyS2Imperiled
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS4Apparently Secure
OklahomaS2Imperiled
TennesseeS4Apparently Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records many wet habitats for this turtle, including temporary pools, herbaceous wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland, creeks, medium rivers and big rivers[9]. Its notes describe ponds, marshes, swamps and slow water[10]. The turtle favors places with water plants, fairly clear water, spots for basking and a soft bottom[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Diet

NatureServe records adult food habits that include both animals and plants[11]. Their listed food habits are carnivore, invertivore, herbivore and scavenger[11]. Females often lay more than one clutch a year in most of the range, and often 4 clutches in Louisiana[12]. The average clutch size in Louisiana is 4[12]. Hatchlings usually spend the winter in the nest and come out in spring[12]. Females in Louisiana mature in 4 years, and males mature at younger ages[12].

Trait Value
Food habits[11] Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Scavenger

When to look for it

On GBIF, most records of this turtle fall in March, April and May[13]. These records show when people look and report, not how many turtles there are[13]. Hatchlings usually come out of the nest in spring[12].

January: 6 recordsJanFebruary: 27 recordsFebMarch: 91 recordsMarApril: 98 recordsAprMay: 104 recordsMayJune: 84 recordsJunJuly: 34 recordsJulAugust: 51 recordsAugSeptember: 24 recordsSepOctober: 16 recordsOctNovember: 9 recordsNovDecember: 8 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January6
February27
March91
April98
May104
June84
July34
August51
September24
October16
November9
December8

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi[14]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Southern Painted Turtle endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][5].
Where does the Southern Painted Turtle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas[3].
What does the Southern Painted Turtle eat?
NatureServe records adults as carnivore, invertivore, herbivore and scavenger, so they eat both animals and plants[11].
When can you see the Southern Painted Turtle?
GBIF records are most numerous in March, April and May[13]. This shows when people report the turtle, not how many there are[13].

Facts and sources

  1. Southern Painted Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Southern Painted Turtle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Southern Painted Turtle as native in 10 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis) is a reptile in the family Emydidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe notes on trend for Southern Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Southern Painted Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Southern Painted Turtle: Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Spring/spring brook, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for Southern Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Scavenger. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Southern Painted Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  13. GBIF observation records of Southern Painted Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  14. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Southern Painted Turtle: Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.